Michael Sam’s NFL Career May Be Over Before it Began

The first openly gay football player was cut by the Rams last week and was placed on waivers on Sunday. When no team claimed Sam, the former Defensive Player of the Year or the University Missouri, then Sam became eligible to be picked up for the Rams practice squad.

But the Rams declined to make Sam one of their 10 practice squad spots and it’s unlikely he will have an NFL job for at least the first week of the season. The lack of interest by any team in signing the first openly gay player in NFL history could be an indication he may never get a second chance in the league.

St. Louis drafted Sam late in the seventh round in May and, after the preseason, Sam was overly confident that he would the Rams practice 53-man roster — or at the very least get picked up by another NFL team if he were cut by the Rams.

The only defensive lineman on the practice squad is tackle Matt Conrath, who played nine games for the Rams over the last two seasons.

The Rams kept nine defensive linemen on their 53-man active roster, including undrafted rookie free agent DE Ethan Westbrooks of West Texas A&M.

Sam racked up three sacks and 11 tackles the four NFL preseason games. Once a player is on the active roster or practice squad Tuesday, the team has to pay him for the first week of the season.

So unless Sam is signed Tuesday, it will take an injury for a team to want to bring him in this week.